The suit, filed this week in U.S. District Court, alleges that most of those supervisors are white.

"If you are looking at how comfortable someone feels, then it provides an opportunity for someone to be discriminated against because of cultural differences," said Anne T. Sulton, attorney for the plaintiffs.

Hospital officials said they could not comment on pending legal action, except to say that "Denver Health is proud of the diversity represented throughout its workforce."

In addition, spokesman Dee Martinez said, "Denver Health is not a for-profit organization. It is a governmental entity."

The suit originally was filed in 2006 by Renee Atwell, a clinical psychologist who is African- American.

Sulton said she has amended the lawsuit in an attempt to gain class-action status because three others have come to her with similar allegations. Only one of the plaintiffs still works at Denver Health.

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Atwell claims she was forced to work out of a cubicle rather than an office as other psychologists had, and had to answer to a white supervisor who was less qualified than she.

The lawsuit also alleges that employees who complain face retaliation and that they are not permitted to bring discrimination complaints to the board of directors that oversees the Denver Health and Hospital Authority.

Martinez said such complaints are permitted.

Sulton said her clients, who include a registered nurse, a physician and a nurse practitioner, did not want to speak publicly about the lawsuit, except through her.

"This has been a traumatic experience for them. To have spent all that time and money in school and then working your butt off and have somebody less qualified than you making it so hard. ... They are still reeling."

Ten years ago, Denver Health - then known as Denver General - was a city department in financial straits. Under Gabow's direction, the hospital formed a quasi-governmental authority that operates separately from city government.

Denver Health employs 4,300 people, and the hospital and its clinics care for 140,000 patients each year, many of whom who lack health insurance.